Pachauri granted interim protection from arrest till Feb. 26

TERI Director-General R.K. Pachauri, facing sexual harassment allegations from a woman employee, was on Monday granted interim protection from arrest till February 26 by a Delhi court.Ruling on his anticipatory bail plea, Additional Sessions Judge Raj Kumar Tripathi also issued notice to investigating officer of the case and sought his response on Dr. Pachauri’s application.

“Notice to IO for submission of report on the illness of the applicant (Pachauri). Verification of the document submitted in regard to the illness of applicant. Put up for next date of hearing on February 26. Accused be not arrested till then,” the court said.

Appearing for Dr. Pachauri, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra said that he is seeking anticipatory bail for his client on the ground of the merit of the case as well as of his illness.

To this, the court asked what kind of illness does Dr. Pachauri have? Mr. Luthra said, “We have submitted all the medical records regarding his illness, which include cardiac issues and UTI.”

He informed the court that Delhi High Court had granted relief to Dr. Pachauri from February 19 till Monday and for that reason he was moving the anticipatory bail plea.

However, advocate Prashant Mendiratta, appearing for the complainant, asked the court to put up the matter for hearing tomorrow.

“IO can respond by tomorrow and the medical record could be verified very easily. The allegations against the accused are very serious in nature which include groping and physical assault on the complainant,” Mr. Mendiratta said.